“Personnel Decide Everything”: The Formation of the Staff of State Statistical Bodies in Altai, 1918-1930

УДК 94(571.150):311.3 ББК 63.3(2Рос-4Алт)61+60.62

Abstract

The article examines the formation of the personnel of state statistical institutions in the Altai region between 1918 and 1930 within the broader context of developments taking place in Siberia. The authors analyze the economic and social preconditions underlying personnel policy in Altai’s statistical agencies during this period. The study highlights the difficulties faced in the early years of Soviet statistics, as well as the changes in staffing policy following the administrative-territorial reform of 1925. It identifies the factors that contributed to instability in staffing at various times and discusses attempts to overcome the prevailing “personnel shortage.” The article presents facts and archival documents that illustrate the historical period under review. The central focus is on the individuals who worked in the statistical institutions of Altai — their biographies, education, and contributions to the field of statistics. Particular attention is given to the most prominent specialists who stood at the origins of Soviet statistics in the Altai region. The article also offers a brief overview of the historiography of the topic and of the archival collections containing documents relevant to the study.